Foot massaging or exercising device



May l1, 1937 H. H. lLLcH 2,080,208

FOOT MASSAGING OR EXERCISING DEVICE Filed June 24, 1936 wwf/W@ ATTORNEY Patented May l1, 1937 4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for massaging or exercising feet, heeLarch and toes.

A device made in accordance with my invention comprises a body portion with circular ends so that the device may be rolled back and forth on the floor or carpet by the users foot. The surface of the body portion is provided with spaced resilient projections which exert pressure on the foot of the user at various points. This pressure can be regulated by the user and greater or smaller pressure may 'be used as desired.

The body portion has a curved enlarged portion adjacent one end which has la larger diameter than the rest of the body portion upon which the instep is placed when the device is to be used. In use this enlarged portion produces a sliding and massaging action on the arch or instep of the users foot. Adjacent the other end oi' the body portion and opposite to the enlarged portion is a guide member which contacts the outer side of the foot and functions to move the users foot over onto` the enlarged curved portion. The device may be made of one piece or several pieces and may have a resilient covering with projections, the covering being attached to the device in any suitable manner. The body portion of the device is eccentrically constructed so that when the device is placed on the floor, it is always in correct position for use. 'I'he device can be used with either foot by reversing the device end for end.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a device made according to my invention;

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged longitudinal cross section taken through the device showing the outline of a section of a foot on the device;

Fig. 3 represents a reduced transverse cross section with a foot in outline showing the position of the device at the beginning of the operation; and

Fig. 4 represents another position of the device shown in Fig. 3 after the device has been rolled through approximately half a revolution.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character I0 designates the body portion of a device made according to my invention. As

I shown in the drawing the body portion I0 is inthe end flanges are preferably surfaced with a non-skid tread I4 such as rubber or rubber composition or the like.

The body portion is formed with an enlarged curved portion I6 which extends for about half way around the device and which merges gradually with the rest of the body portion. The rest of the top of the body portion shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is` cut away to produce the inclined surface I'I. The lower portion of the body portion shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is formed substantially cylindrically as at I8 and merges with the rest of the body portion. The device is formed eccentrically and with a low center of gravity b v removing part of the top of the body portion as above described so that when the device is placed on the oor, it assumes a normal position ready for use with the curved portion I6 on the top and the cylindrical portion I8 on the bottom, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In use the enlarged curved portion I6 travels at a faster rate than the rest of thebody portion to produce a sliding action on the arch of the foot.

At the end of the device opposite from the enlarged portion I6, the body portion has a rounded member I 9 which is shown as formed integrally therewith but which may be made as a separate piece. 'Ihis member I9 is formed of hard material and forms a smooth guide portion to force the users foot over onto the enlarged curved portion.

The body portion I0 is suitably covered with a resilient layer preferably formed of rubber or rubber composition. As shown in the drawing this resilient layer is preferably provided with resilient projections 22 which form diamondshaped suction cups 24 when the device is used and which massage and knead the foot of the user. Other forms of resilient layers or surfaces 20 and other forms of resilient projections and suction cups may be used.

The operation of the device will now be given. The device is eccentrically formed and has its center of gravity below its geometrical center so that when the device is placed on the oor it will normally assume the position shown in Figs. '2 and 3, and it will be ready for use. With the device in this position a person places his foot on the device with the instep or arch resting on the curved enlarged portion I 6 of the body portion I0 in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. with the outside of the foot placed against the rounded guide member I9. This guide member forces the narrow part of the foot over onto the enlarged portion I6. Pressure is then applied to the foot and the device is rolled along on the circular end flanges I2. Rotation in one direction massages the instep and heel of the footand rotation in the other direction massages the instep and the ball of the foot. IThe person using the device can apply as much pressure on his foot as he desires. While using the device, the resilient projections 22 on the device form suction cups 24 to massage and knead the foot.

The enlarged curved portion I6 travels at a faster rate than the main portion or the rest oi the body portion so as to produce a sliding action on the arch of the users foot. After massaging one foot, the person removes his foot from the device and the device will again assume its normal position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. If it is desired to massage the other foot it is only necessary to reverse the position oi the device end for end or else to leave the device stationary and move around to the other side of the device.

It is to be understood that the foregoing construction is given only by way of illustration and that the same may be modied. in many particulars without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described for massaging feet, including a body portion having circular ends, said ends being of a diameter greater than said body portion so as to be adapted to roll on a iioor or other surface, the bottom side of said body portion being formed as a part of a cylinder and the top side of said body portion being inclined to form a large curved part adjacent one end and a smaller part adjacent the other end of said body portion. said large curved part merging with a substantially cylindrical portion, said enlarged curved portion being adapted to exert a massaging action on the instep of the foot of a user.

2. A device of the character described for massaging or exercising feet, including a body portion having circular end anges of a greater diameter than said body portion to form a rolling support for the device, said body portion having a massaging portion curved to fit the arch of a foot and a smaller adjacent massaging portion, said device being formed eccentrically so that said curved massaging portion is normally at the top of the device and the device is always in proper position for use when it is placed on the oor or the like.

3. A device of the character described for massaging feet, including a body portion having circular end anges of a greater diameter than said body portion to form a rolling support for the device, the bottom side of said body portion being formed as a part of a cylinder and the top side of said body'portion being inclined to form a large curved part at one end and a smaller part adjacent the other end of said body portion, said body portion adjacent said smaller part having a rounded guide member for forcing the arch of the users foot over onto said large curved part, substantially all of said body portion having a resilient surface for massaging the users foot while the device vis being used.

4. A device of the character described in claim 3 in which said resilient surface is provided with diamond shaped projections which massage and knead the users foot while the device is in use.

5. A device of the character described formassaging feet, including a body portion having circular ends, said ends being of a greater diameter than said body portion to form a rolling support tion being formed as a part of a cylinder and the.

top side of said body portion being inclined to form a large curved part at one end and a smaller part adjacent the other end of said body portion, said body portion adjacent said -smaller part having a guide member adapted to force the users foot over onto the large curved part when the device is in use.

6. A device oi' the vcharacter described for massaging feet, including a body portion having circular ends, said ends being of a greater diameter than said body portion to form a rolling support for the device, the bottom side oi' said body portion being formed as a part of a cylinder and the top side of said body portion being inclined to form a large curved part at one end and a smaller part adjacent the other end of said body portion. said body portion adjacent said smaller part having a guide member adapted to force the users foot over onto the large curved part when the device is in use, the peripheries of said circular ends being provided with non-skid treads.

7. A device of the character described ior massaging feet, including a body portion having circular ends, said circular ends being of a greater diameter than said body portion to form a rolling support for the device, the bottom side of said body portion being formed as a part oi a cylinder and the top side of said body portion being inclined to form a large curved part at one end and a smaller part adjacent the other end of said body portion, substantially all of said body portion having a resilient surface comprising diamond shaped projections which massage and knead the users foot while the device is in use.

8. A device of the character described for massaging and exercising feet, including a body portion having circular end flanges of a greater diameter than said body portion to form a rolling support for the device, said body portion having a small massaging portion and a larger massaging portion curved to it the arch of a foot, both of said massaging portions merging with a substantially cylindrical portion oi' said body portion, the device being formed eccentrically so that the massaging portions are normally at the top of the device and the device is always in proper position for use when it is placed on the iioor or the like.

9. A device of the character described for massaging or exercising feet, including a body portion and end portions, said end portions being both of the same diameter to form a rolling support for the device, said body portion at its bottom side being formed approximately cylindrical and the top side of said body portion being inclined to form a rounded enlarged portion adjacent one end of the device tapering to a smaller portion adjacent the other end of the device, the inclined portion and cylindrical portion merging gradually to form a smooth surface on said body portion, the smaller portion being oset with respect to the centers of the ends of the device forming the rolling support whereby the body portion has a low center of gravity and the device assumes a normal position ready for use with the inclined portion at the top of the device when the device is placed on a supporting surface, said inclined portion of the body portion being adapted to massage and exercise the arch of the foot of a user and said ,cylindrical portion of the body portion being adapted to massage and exercise the heel and the ball of the foot of a user when the device is rolled on its rolling support.

10. A device of the character described for massaging and exercising feet comprising ends having substantially circular portions of approximately equal diameter to form rolling supports for the device and a body portion of rounded cross section adapted to contact the arch of a foot for massaging the same,` said body portion tapering from one end toward the other and being arranged with its smaller end xed eccentxicaliy to the adjacent end portion of the device so that the device will normally assume a substantially constant position when in equilibrium on the oor and the tapering portion of the body will move up and down as the device is rolled back and forth on the door.

HERBERT H. ILLCH. 

